Comrade comes out on top after controversial start There was controversy at the start of the Millennium Surveys Ltd Mares Point-To-Point INH Flat Race, with Chosen Comrade (85/40) eventually coming out on top. The Peter Fahey-trained victor and two others went what appeared to be the correct side of a doll shortly after the tape was released, with the remaining eight going the other way. The field quickly converged though, with the John Gleeson-ridden victor soon disputing the lead with A New Deck. Gaining an outright advantage approaching the straight, the Paul Leech-owned victor skipped clear from the two-furlong pole and kept on well for pressure in the closing stages, coming home two-and-a-quarter lengths to the good. Returned the well-backed 6/4 favourite (briefly touched 9/2 early), Lingstown winner Katie's Melody kept on well to take second under Barry Stone for Jonathan Fogarty, while Noble Name (33/1) was another two-and-three-quarters of a length away in third. "Paul (Leech) picked her out after she won her point to point, as she was the fastest winner of the day. We went down the following Tuesday and bought her although we took a chance by running her back so quick but it worked out grand," Fahey revealed. "Gary Murphy had her, she is a nice filly and does everything well at home. She'll be left off for the summer now and hopefully will be competitive against the big boys over the winter. "That's Paul's fourth horse with us and the other three each won blacktype races." Regarding the start of the race, he added: "John (Gleeson) wanted to go out wide and to keep out to the outside wing, as it was watered more. "He said everything just lined up wide and not in line with the 'dolls', but he was happy enough." An IHRB official later reported: "Regulation 9 states that a 'doll' must be used in conjunction with a bundle of birch at one end and that bundle of birch designates the correct course. As there was no birch on the doll, no rider has taken the wrong course. "The 'dolls' are only markers to keep horses off unwatered ground and, once there is no bundle of birch on any of them, a horse is entitled to race either side of them." STEWARDS REPORTS * The Raceday Stewards reviewed an incident shortly after the start of this race where the field went either side of a marker. Having consulted with the Clerk of the Course, viewed the recording of the race and considered the matter, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that as per Regulation 9 a doll must be used in conjunction with a bundle of birch at one end and as there was no birch, no rider had taken the wrong course and that no further action was warranted. * The Raceday Stewards interviewed Mr D. O'Sullivan, rider of Noble Name, concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted he was in breach of the whip Regulation. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards were satisfied the rider was in breach of R10.3(i)(time to respond) and having considered his clean record, they suspended him for two racedays. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
